Fire extinguisher



United States Patent [72] Inventor Mark E. Balmes, Sr.

Northbrook, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 690,643 [22] Filed Dec. 14, 1967 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [73] Assignee General Fire Extinguisher Corporation Northbrook, 111. a corporation of Delaware [54] F IRE EXTINGUISHER 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 169/26, 169/31, 169/42 [51] Int. Cl A62c 35/02 [50] Field of Search 169/26- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,876,846 3/1959 Howard 169/31 1,933,694 11/1933 Allen et al. 169/26 2,588,788 3/1952 Zell 169/26 2,824,614 2/1958 Bowman 169/26 3,091,365 5/1963 Horner et al 169/26 3,245,474 4/1966 Romero 169/26 FOREIGN PATENTS 276,562 7/1951 Switzerland 169/31 811,518 1/1937 France 169/26 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King A1t0rne v-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: A fire extinguisher having a shell for receiving pressurized fire extinguishing material therein. A housing or body mounted on the shell and provided with a discharge orifice therein and a passage at an upper end. A rupturable membrane or disc is provided between the shell and the orifice for containing the fire extinguishing material Within the shell. A plunger is mounted in overlying relation with regard to the rupturable membrane and is exteriorly connected to a fusible link disposed at one side of the housing or body in adjacency thereto. Means provided for supporting the plunger at the side of the housing and for holding the actuator in a cocked position so that upon fusing of the fusible link the plunger can be released and moved by actuating means relative to the housing into piercing contact with the rupturable membrane to enable the fire extinguishing material to be released from the shell.

FIRE EXTINGUISl-IER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is a fire extinguisher, and, in particular, an automatic fire extinguisher which is actuated upon fusing of a fusible link at one side of the extinguisher. In the past, various types of'spring actuated plungers or actuators have been utilized for the purpose of rupturing membranes of fire extinguishers to cause fire extinguishing material to be discharged. It is also old on various type of fire extinguishers to employ fusible links of various types including both hand operated and automatic type fire extinguishers. v

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is believed as one broad feature of this invention that it is new in automatic fire extinguishers for the heat sensing means on the fuse to be mounted at one side of a housing or body on a shell in compact relation thereto and also connected to an actuator extending exteriorly of the housing alongside the housing whereby the actuator can be released to cause a rupturable disc to be punctured to release fire extinguishing material from the housing upon fusing or breaking of the fuse upon said heat sensing means receiving an appropriate signal.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved fire extinguisher of the automatic type which is self-operating upon receiving a heat generated signal whereby fire extinguishing material can be released to extinguish the fire source such as in a marine engine compartment or in a laundry dryer, or in a number of other different installations.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved fire extinguisher where the components are compactly arranged relative to one another and where the disc rupturing actuator is directly connected to a fusible link disposed at one side of the extinguisher.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a selfoperating or automatic type fire extinguisher which is relatively simple in design, economical of manufacture, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Another feature of this invention relates to the use of a siphon tube in the shell in combination with a diaphragm extending over one open end of the siphon tube and an actuator which is arranged to be operated in such a way as to pierce the diaphragm to permit pressurized fluid to fiowfrom the container through the siphon tube into the actuator itself and out through a passage in the actuator, whereupon the material is released through a second passage from the extinguisher.

Still other important features of the present invention are concerned with the unique manner in which the fuse link is mounted on the fire extinguisher and more particularly on the housing and body. To this end, and according to still more specific features of this invention, one end of the actuator, in the preferred embodiment, is secured with one end of the fuse link and a bracket with a tab is secured with the other end of the fuse link, the bracket being secured on the housing by an end cap.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein a single embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a fire extinguisher employing the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fire extinguisher shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the fire extinguisher shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with certain parts shown in elevation in a cocked position; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 3 only illustrating the fire extinguisher in an unloaded or discharging condition.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a fire extinguisher which embodies the principles of my invention. The fire extinguisher includes a metallic shell 11 which may be manufactured from copper brazed steel and which comprises a pair of sections secured in the usual manner (not shown). Mounted on the shell ll is a cylindrical housing or body 12 which may be made from any suitable material such as aluminum. The housing 12 has a cylindrical bore 13, and it will be noted that a generally U-shaped member or plunger 14 is mounted with a leg in the bore 13. The plunger can be manufactured from any suitable material such as stainless steel and the like. Disposed within the cylindrical bore 13 is a spring 15 which provides means for actuating the plunger upon melting of a fusible link 16 which it will be noted is mounted at one side of the housing or body 12. The fusible link is of a conventional construction and is of a type that can be fused or broken at temperatures in excess of 212 F. in one preferred application. It will be appreciated that other types of fusible links may be used so that the fire extinguisher can be discharged at various temperatures as desired.

Underlying the plunger 14 generally at the juncture of the shell 11 and the housing 12 is a rupturable member or disc 17 which is adapted to be pierced upon melting of the fusible link as a consequence of the spring 15 operating to drive the plunger through the disc.

The cylinder or shell 11 may contain any suitable fire extinguishing material, and excellent results may be obtained where various types of freon are employed such as FE- 1301.

After the disc 17 has been released it will be appreciated that the pressurized freon material is adapted to be released through a siphon tube 19 which extends at its lower end into the shell in adjacency to its bottom end and which extends at its opposite end into housing chamber 20. As the material is flowed from the bottom of the shell 11 it is then propelled through siphon tube 19 into the housing chamber 20 and discharged through the discharge port 21.

Mounted upon the shell 11 is a press-fitted bushing 22. It will be noted that the shell has an angular collar Ila which is engaged with the bushing 22 for supporting the same in assembly with the shell. The siphon tube 19 has a neck 23 which rests on a bushing support shoulder 24 carried on the bushing 22. Also provided in this area of the fire extinguisher is a diaphragm support bushing 25 which possesses external threads 26 that are threadingly engaged with internal threads 27 on the bushing 22 enabling the diaphragm 17 to be supported in operative relation over the open end of the siphon tube 19in coaxial alignment with the plunger 14. The plunger 14 is adapted to coact with the diaphragm or rupturable member 17, and to this end is provided with a hollow end 28 having a biased cutting edge 29 and transverse discharge orifices or ports 30-30. Thus, when the plunger 14 is activated the plunger edge 29 pierces the rupturable membrance 17 as shown in FIG. 4, and the transverse passages or ports 30-30 are positioned above the rupturable membrane 17 to enable the fire extinguishing material to pass vertically through the siphon tube 19 under pressure and then be discharged through the transverse passageways or ports 30-30 into the housing chamber 20 and then to be discharged from the fire extinguisher out through the fluid discharge port 21. If desired, a fitting 31 may be secured with threads 210 along with a fluid line 32 to permit the fluid to be transmitted or directed to some point remote to the fire extinguisher. It will be appreciated that the fire extinguisher herein disclosed is adapted to be mounted on a wall by a supporting bracket which may be of any conventional type. It will be noted that grooves 12a are provided on the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 1, for coaction with strap arms on the mounting bracket for suspending the extinguisher from the supporting bracket.

The body or housing 12 is provided with a spring chamber 33, and the spring 15 is housed therein. The plunger 14 has a spring retaining disc 34 that is mounted on its interior leg 14a,

and it coacts with a threaded body cap 36 and the housing 12 to define the spring chamber 33. The spring acts between the cap 36 and the disc 34 for the purpose of applying a thrust force through the retaining disc 34 and to the plunger cutting edge 29 for the purpose of piercing the diaphragm 17. The disc 34 is held in place by a set screw 35, as shown in FIG. 3.

The cap also serves to secure one end of fuse retainer the link from its opposite ends on the housing 12. It will further be appreciated that the link 16 is provided with link Z openings 16b and 16c to facilitate attachment of the link to the ""fuse retainer bracket 38 and more particularly to its hookshaped tab 42 at upper fuse link end 16a while the opening 160 at the lower fuse link end 16d is engaged in the groove 40 between the retaining shoulders 41-41.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood'that I wish to ema body within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such v.modifications as reasonably and properly come within the .scope of my contribution to the art.

' I claim:

1. A self-actuabl'e fire extinguisher comprising: a pressurized fire extinguishing fluid containing unit including:

a generally upright, cylindrical, pressurized tank containing fire extinguishing fluid and having a neck at the top thereof with an'opening therein;

a first annular bushing mounted in the opening in the neck and having exposed internal and external threads exteriorly of the tank;

a siphon tube captured by the first bushing and extending into the tank through which fluid is guided to the opena rupturable membrane forming a closure over the opening preventing flow of fluid through the siphon tube; and

a second annular bushing having external threads threadably secured in the first bushing, said membrane being held against the first bushing by the second bushing; and

self-contained means for automatically rupturing the membrane and directing the released fluid, said rupturing and directing means being removably mounted on said first bushing over the rupturable membrane and including:

a generally upright cylindrical housing having:

an internally threaded lower portion for securing the housing to the external threads of the first bushing of the unit;

a discharge chamber above the lower threaded portion in close proximity over the rupturable membrane;

a discharge orifice communicating with the discharge chamber to the side thereof;

an upper passageway above said discharge chamber;

and v an opening in the top of the housing above the upper passageway; v

a generally upside down U-shaped member having:

an interior leg comprising plunger means extending from above the housing'into the housing through the top opening thereof and "passing through the upper passageway and the discharge chamber and including a sharp point at its lower end for piercing the rupturable membrane, said interior leg normally being in a cocked position when the sharp pointed end is over the rupturable membrane and being in an actuated position when the lower sharp pointed end has pierced the membrane;

an exterior leg extended along the side of the housing in close relation thereto; and a bight area connecting the interior and exterior legs normally overlying the top of the housing;

means mounted in the upper passageway of the housing for moving the interior leg of the U-shaped member from its cocked position to its actuated position with sufficient force to rupture the membrane; and

a fusible link operatively connected in tension between .the housing and the exterior leg of the U-shaped member for holding the interior leg in a cocked position said link being disposed in a side by side, compact relation to the housing and being fusible at a predetermined temperature to release. the U-shaped member for allowing the moving means to move the interior leg from a cocked to an actuated position whereby fluid from the unit is directed from the tank through the discharge orifice.

2. The fire extinguisher of claim 1 wherein the housing includes:

a-threaded cap forming the top of the housing and having an opening therein; and.

a support bracket mounted on the top of the housing and extending outwardly therefrom having a portion held against the housing by the threaded cap for supporting the fusible link in tension away from the exterior leg.

3. The fire extinguisher of claim 1 wherein said means mounted in the upper passagewayof the housing for moving the interior leg includes a coiled spring biased against a collar secured to the interior leg and the housing. 

